146 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



I do not know if it is a permanent resident on the Nellgherries, 

 but rather think that it is. 



It frequents open forests in the hills, perching low, and descend- 

 ino- to the ground to pickup insects. Hodgson says, that "from the 

 number of insects' nests and larvae he found in its stomach, lie has 

 o'iven the jreneric name." Dr. Adams found it in the forests of 

 Caslunere, and remarked that it had the habits of a Redstart. 

 Some specimens have the white superciliary mark very short, 

 stopping at the eye ; in others it extends far beyond it. 

 Hodo-son at first stated that the sexes were alike, but he afterwards 

 described the female as differing in her plumage. A second species 

 of Larvivora has been noticed by Mr. Swinhoe from China. 



Gen. Ianthia, Blyth. 



Syn. Nemura, Hodgson. 



Char. — Bill short, slender, straight, rictal bristles rather long ; 

 wings rather long ; 4th and 5th quills equal and longest ; 3rd and 

 6th nearly equal ; tail almost even, moderate, slightly mucronate ; 

 tarsus long, slender ; toes and claws long and slender. 



This genus comprises a few birds, the males of which are blue 

 above, and more or less rufous beneath ; the plumage soft, silky and 

 lax, but copious. They are very nearly allied to the true Robins, 

 Erythaca^h\xi differ in their more delicate make, longer wings, longer 

 toes and claws ; and the sexes dilFcr in coloring. They are all 

 foresters and shy, and, as far as 1 have observed, insectivorous ; but 

 Mr. Hodgson states that they sometimes eat pulpy berries. 



508. lanthia cyanura, Pallas. 



Motacllla, apud Pallas — Nemura rufilata, and N. cyanura, 

 Hodgson — Jardtne, Contrib. Ornith. PI. — Blyth, Cat. 1002 — 

 HoKSF., Cat. 464 — Erythaca Tytleri, Jameson — Alanr/zhil-pho, 

 Lepch. 



The White-breasted Blue Wood-chat. 



Descr. — IVIale above prussian-blue, brightening and inclining 

 to ultramarine on the forehead, over the eyes, on the shoulder 

 and rump ; the lower parts are white, confined to a narrow streak 



